Former US attorney named inspector general

A former U.S. attorney and legal counsel to former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar has been named acting legislative inspector general.

The Legislative Ethics Commission announced in a statement received Tuesday that J. William Roberts of Springfield took over in an acting capacity on Tuesday.

In addition to his tenure as counsel to Edgar and U.S. attorney for the central district of Illinois, he also was Sangamon County State's Attorney.

Roberts takes over for Tom Homer, a former Democratic lawmaker and appellate court justice who served 10 years following the creation of the post with the 2003 Ethics Act.

The legislative inspector general is responsible for investigating complaints and other indications of violations of laws or rules, abuse of authority or other forms of misconduct by lawmakers and their staff members.